bowser vs ua-parser-js vs universal-user-agent vs platform vs detect-browser vs user-agent
Browser Detection Libraries Comparison
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bowserua-parser-jsuniversal-user-agentplatformdetect-browseruser-agentSimilar Packages:
What's Browser Detection Libraries?

Browser detection libraries are essential tools in web development that help identify the user's browser and its capabilities. This information can be crucial for optimizing user experience, ensuring compatibility, and implementing browser-specific features or fixes. These libraries provide developers with the ability to tailor their applications based on the environment in which they are running, enhancing functionality and user satisfaction.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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bowser15,694,3855,560-955 years agoMIT
ua-parser-js15,612,7619,5821.21 MB21a month agoAGPL-3.0-or-later
universal-user-agent11,952,223208.14 kB02 years agoISC
platform1,808,0653,233-345 years agoMIT
detect-browser1,297,27769627 kB433 years agoMIT
user-agent2,479-----
Feature Comparison: bowser vs ua-parser-js vs universal-user-agent vs platform vs detect-browser vs user-agent

Browser Detection Accuracy

  • bowser:

    Bowser provides high accuracy in detecting modern browsers and their versions, including mobile and desktop environments. It uses a well-maintained list of user-agent strings to ensure reliable results.

  • ua-parser-js:

    ua-parser-js is known for its comprehensive parsing capabilities, accurately identifying browser versions, operating systems, and device types from user-agent strings.

  • universal-user-agent:

    Universal-user-agent ensures consistent detection across client and server environments, maintaining high accuracy in identifying user agents regardless of the context.

  • platform:

    Platform excels in providing accurate detection of both browsers and operating systems, making it a versatile choice for applications that need to adapt to different environments.

  • detect-browser:

    Detect-browser offers a straightforward detection mechanism that accurately identifies major browsers but may lack detailed versioning for less common browsers.

  • user-agent:

    User-agent provides basic detection capabilities with reasonable accuracy, suitable for lightweight applications that do not require extensive details.

Library Size and Performance

  • bowser:

    Bowser is lightweight, making it ideal for performance-sensitive applications. Its small footprint ensures quick loading times and minimal impact on overall application performance.

  • ua-parser-js:

    ua-parser-js has a moderate size but offers extensive features, balancing performance with functionality for applications that require detailed user-agent analysis.

  • universal-user-agent:

    Universal-user-agent is designed to be efficient in both client and server environments, ensuring good performance without compromising on detection capabilities.

  • platform:

    Platform is slightly larger due to its comprehensive capabilities, but it remains efficient for most applications without significant performance overhead.

  • detect-browser:

    Detect-browser is also lightweight and designed for quick execution, making it suitable for applications where performance is a key concern.

  • user-agent:

    User-agent is very lightweight, making it an excellent choice for applications where minimalism and speed are priorities.

Ease of Use

  • bowser:

    Bowser features a simple API that is easy to integrate into projects, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels.

  • ua-parser-js:

    ua-parser-js has a slightly steeper learning curve due to its extensive capabilities, but it offers clear documentation to assist developers.

  • universal-user-agent:

    Universal-user-agent is designed for ease of use across different environments, providing a consistent API that simplifies integration.

  • platform:

    Platform provides a user-friendly API but may require a bit more understanding due to its broader feature set compared to simpler libraries.

  • detect-browser:

    Detect-browser is designed for simplicity, with a straightforward API that allows for quick implementation and minimal setup.

  • user-agent:

    User-agent is very easy to use, making it a great choice for developers looking for quick and simple browser detection.

Community and Support

  • bowser:

    Bowser has a strong community and is actively maintained, ensuring ongoing support and updates to keep up with browser changes.

  • ua-parser-js:

    ua-parser-js has a large user base and active contributions, ensuring robust support and frequent updates to maintain accuracy.

  • universal-user-agent:

    Universal-user-agent has a growing community, with support available through documentation and user contributions.

  • platform:

    Platform benefits from a decent community and regular updates, making it a reliable choice for ongoing projects.

  • detect-browser:

    Detect-browser has a smaller community but is still maintained, providing basic support for users.

  • user-agent:

    User-agent has limited community support, but it is straightforward enough that most users can troubleshoot common issues independently.

Extensibility

  • bowser:

    Bowser allows for easy customization and extension, enabling developers to add their own detection rules if needed.

  • ua-parser-js:

    ua-parser-js is highly extensible, allowing developers to modify or add parsing rules to suit their application's requirements.

  • universal-user-agent:

    Universal-user-agent offers extensibility features, making it adaptable for various use cases, especially in server-side applications.

  • platform:

    Platform provides some extensibility options, allowing developers to adapt its functionality to specific needs.

  • detect-browser:

    Detect-browser is not highly extensible, focusing instead on simplicity and ease of use without additional customization features.

  • user-agent:

    User-agent is not designed for extensibility, focusing on providing a simple and effective solution without customization.

How to Choose: bowser vs ua-parser-js vs universal-user-agent vs platform vs detect-browser vs user-agent
  • bowser:

    Choose Bowser if you need a lightweight and fast solution for browser detection with a focus on modern browsers. It provides detailed information about the browser version and platform, making it suitable for applications that require precise detection.

  • ua-parser-js:

    Use ua-parser-js if you need a robust and well-maintained library that offers extensive parsing capabilities for user-agent strings. It's suitable for applications that require detailed information about the user's environment.

  • universal-user-agent:

    Choose universal-user-agent for projects that need to handle user-agent strings in a universal way, especially in server-side applications. It provides a consistent API for both client and server environments.

  • platform:

    Opt for platform if you require a comprehensive library that not only detects browsers but also provides information about the operating system and device type. This is useful for applications that need to adapt to various environments.

  • detect-browser:

    Select detect-browser for a simple and straightforward API that allows for quick browser detection. It's ideal for projects where you need a minimalistic approach without the overhead of additional features.

  • user-agent:

    Select user-agent if you want a simple and effective way to parse user-agent strings without the complexity of larger libraries. It's perfect for lightweight applications that need basic detection.

Similar Npm Packages to bowser

bowser is a lightweight JavaScript library that helps developers detect the browser and platform information of users. It provides a simple API to identify the user's browser, version, and operating system, making it easier to tailor web applications for different environments. This can be particularly useful for optimizing user experiences and handling browser-specific quirks.

While bowser is a popular choice for browser detection, there are alternatives available that also serve similar purposes. Here are a couple of noteworthy alternatives:

  • platform is a JavaScript library that provides a simple way to detect the user's platform, including the browser, operating system, and device type. It offers a straightforward API and is designed to work seamlessly across various environments. If you need a lightweight solution for platform detection without the additional features that bowser provides, platform is a solid choice. It is especially useful for applications that require basic platform information without the overhead of a more comprehensive library.

  • ua-parser-js is another powerful library for parsing user agent strings. It provides detailed information about the browser, engine, OS, CPU, and device type. ua-parser-js is particularly useful for applications that require in-depth analysis of user agent strings and need to extract detailed information about the user's environment. If your project demands a more granular level of detail regarding user agents, ua-parser-js is an excellent alternative.

To see how bowser compares with platform and ua-parser-js, check out the comparison: Comparing bowser vs platform vs ua-parser-js.

Similar Npm Packages to ua-parser-js

ua-parser-js is a lightweight JavaScript library that helps developers parse user agent strings to extract useful information about the user's device, browser, and operating system. This library is particularly useful for web applications that need to tailor their content or functionality based on the user's environment. By providing a straightforward API, ua-parser-js allows developers to easily identify the characteristics of the client's device, enabling better user experiences.

While ua-parser-js is a popular choice for user agent parsing, there are several alternatives that developers can consider:

  • device-detector-js is a powerful library that provides detailed information about the user's device, including its type, brand, model, and operating system. It is designed to be fast and efficient, making it suitable for applications that require real-time device detection. device-detector-js is particularly useful for applications that need to provide tailored experiences based on device characteristics, such as responsive design or feature availability.

  • express-useragent is a middleware for Express.js that parses the user agent string and provides an easy-to-use interface for accessing device information. It integrates seamlessly with Express applications, allowing developers to access user agent data directly from the request object. If you are building an Express application and need a simple way to handle user agent parsing, express-useragent is an excellent choice.

To compare these libraries and see how they stack up against each other, check out the following link: Comparing device-detector-js vs express-useragent vs ua-parser-js.

Similar Npm Packages to universal-user-agent

universal-user-agent is a JavaScript library designed to parse and analyze user-agent strings in a consistent manner across different environments, such as browsers and Node.js. It helps developers identify the user's browser, operating system, and device type, enabling them to tailor their applications based on the user's environment. While universal-user-agent is a powerful tool for user-agent detection, there are several alternatives available in the ecosystem. Here are a few notable ones:

  • bowser is a lightweight and fast browser detection library that parses user-agent strings to identify the browser and its version. It provides a simple API for checking browser capabilities and is particularly useful for feature detection. If you need a straightforward solution for detecting browsers without the overhead of a more comprehensive library, bowser is an excellent choice.

  • detect-browser is another user-agent detection library that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It provides a minimalistic API to identify the browser and its version, making it a great option for projects that require basic browser detection without additional complexity. If you want a quick and efficient way to determine the user's browser, detect-browser is a solid alternative.

  • platform is a library that provides a simple way to detect the user's platform (browser, operating system, and device) based on the user-agent string. It offers a clean API and is particularly useful for applications that need to differentiate between various platforms. If your project requires platform detection along with user-agent parsing, platform is a good option.

  • ua-parser-js is a powerful and comprehensive user-agent parsing library that can identify browsers, operating systems, and devices. It supports a wide range of user-agent strings and is highly customizable. If you need detailed information about the user's environment and require a robust solution, ua-parser-js is an excellent choice.

  • user-agent is a simple library that focuses on parsing user-agent strings to extract relevant information about the user's browser and operating system. It is lightweight and easy to use, making it suitable for projects that need basic user-agent parsing without additional features.

To see how universal-user-agent compares with bowser, detect-browser, platform, ua-parser-js, and user-agent, check out the comparison: Comparing bowser vs detect-browser vs platform vs ua-parser-js vs universal-user-agent vs user-agent.

Similar Npm Packages to platform

platform is a JavaScript library that helps developers identify the user's platform, browser, and operating system. It provides a simple API to retrieve information about the user's environment, which can be useful for tailoring experiences or debugging issues that may arise due to platform-specific behavior. By using the platform library, developers can easily access details such as the browser name, version, and the operating system, allowing for better compatibility and user experience.

While platform is a solid choice for detecting user environments, there are other libraries that offer similar functionality. Here are a few alternatives:

  • bowser is a lightweight and fast JavaScript library for browser detection. It provides detailed information about the user's browser, including its name, version, and platform. Bowser is particularly useful for developers who need to implement browser-specific features or workarounds. Its small size and performance make it an excellent choice for projects where minimizing bundle size is a priority. Bowser's straightforward API allows for easy integration into any JavaScript application, making it a popular choice among developers.

  • ua-parser-js is another powerful library for parsing user agent strings. It can detect a wide range of browsers, operating systems, and devices. ua-parser-js is particularly useful for applications that require detailed information about the user's environment, such as analytics or feature detection. With its extensive capabilities, ua-parser-js can help developers make informed decisions based on the user's device and browser characteristics. Its comprehensive parsing capabilities make it a robust alternative for those who need more than just basic platform detection.

To see how platform compares with bowser and ua-parser-js, check out the comparison: Comparing bowser vs platform vs ua-parser-js.

Similar Npm Packages to detect-browser

detect-browser is a lightweight JavaScript library that allows developers to easily detect the user's browser and its version. This can be particularly useful for tailoring user experiences based on the browser being used, enabling developers to implement browser-specific features or fixes. While detect-browser is a solid choice for browser detection, there are several alternatives available that offer similar functionalities. Here are a few noteworthy options:

  • bowser is a powerful and feature-rich browser detection library that provides detailed information about the user's browser, including its name, version, and platform. Bowser is known for its accuracy and comprehensive detection capabilities, making it a popular choice among developers who need to support a wide range of browsers and devices. It can also parse user agent strings and provide insights into the browser's capabilities, which can be beneficial for feature detection and compatibility checks.

  • ua-parser-js is another popular library for parsing user agent strings and extracting information about the browser, engine, OS, and device. It is designed to be lightweight and fast, making it suitable for performance-sensitive applications. ua-parser-js offers a straightforward API and can be used in both client-side and server-side environments. If you need a comprehensive solution for user agent parsing with a focus on performance, ua-parser-js is an excellent choice.

  • useragent is a library that provides a simple interface for parsing user agent strings. It is designed to be easy to use and offers a range of features for detecting browsers, operating systems, and devices. While it may not be as feature-rich as some other options, useragent is a solid choice for developers looking for a straightforward solution for user agent parsing without the overhead of more complex libraries.

To see how detect-browser compares with bowser, ua-parser-js, and useragent, check out the comparison: Comparing bowser vs detect-browser vs ua-parser-js vs useragent.

README for bowser

Bowser

A small, fast and rich-API browser/platform/engine detector for both browser and node.

  • Small. Use plain ES5-version which is ~4.8kB gzipped.
  • Optimized. Use only those parsers you need — it doesn't do useless work.
  • Multi-platform. It's browser- and node-ready, so you can use it in any environment.

Don't hesitate to support the project on Github or OpenCollective if you like it ❤️ Also, contributors are always welcome!

Financial Contributors on Open Collective Build Status Greenkeeper badge Coverage Status Downloads

Contents

Overview

The library is made to help to detect what browser your user has and gives you a convenient API to filter the users somehow depending on their browsers. Check it out on this page: https://bowser-js.github.io/bowser-online/.

⚠️ Version 2.0 breaking changes ⚠️

Version 2.0 has drastically changed the API. All available methods are on the docs page.

For legacy code, check out the 1.x branch and install it through npm install bowser@1.9.4.

Use cases

First of all, require the library. This is a UMD Module, so it will work for AMD, TypeScript, ES6, and CommonJS module systems.

const Bowser = require("bowser"); // CommonJS

import * as Bowser from "bowser"; // TypeScript

import Bowser from "bowser"; // ES6 (and TypeScript with --esModuleInterop enabled)

By default, the exported version is the ES5 transpiled version, which do not include any polyfills.

In case you don't use your own babel-polyfill you may need to have pre-built bundle with all needed polyfills. So, for you it's suitable to require bowser like this: require('bowser/bundled'). As the result, you get a ES5 version of bowser with babel-polyfill bundled together.

You may need to use the source files, so they will be available in the package as well.

Browser props detection

Often we need to pick users' browser properties such as the name, the version, the rendering engine and so on. Here is an example how to do it with Bowser:

const browser = Bowser.getParser(window.navigator.userAgent);

console.log(`The current browser name is "${browser.getBrowserName()}"`);
// The current browser name is "Internet Explorer"

or

const browser = Bowser.getParser(window.navigator.userAgent);
console.log(browser.getBrowser());

// outputs
{
  name: "Internet Explorer"
  version: "11.0"
}

or

console.log(Bowser.parse(window.navigator.userAgent));

// outputs
{
  browser: {
    name: "Internet Explorer"
    version: "11.0"
  },
  os: {
    name: "Windows"
    version: "NT 6.3"
    versionName: "8.1"
  },
  platform: {
    type: "desktop"
  },
  engine: {
    name: "Trident"
    version: "7.0"
  }
}

Filtering browsers

You could want to filter some particular browsers to provide any special support for them or make any workarounds. It could look like this:

const browser = Bowser.getParser(window.navigator.userAgent);
const isValidBrowser = browser.satisfies({
  // declare browsers per OS
  windows: {
    "internet explorer": ">10",
  },
  macos: {
    safari: ">10.1"
  },

  // per platform (mobile, desktop or tablet)
  mobile: {
    safari: '>=9',
    'android browser': '>3.10'
  },

  // or in general
  chrome: "~20.1.1432",
  firefox: ">31",
  opera: ">=22",

  // also supports equality operator
  chrome: "=20.1.1432", // will match particular build only

  // and loose-equality operator
  chrome: "~20",        // will match any 20.* sub-version
  chrome: "~20.1"       // will match any 20.1.* sub-version (20.1.19 as well as 20.1.12.42-alpha.1)
});

Settings for any particular OS or platform has more priority and redefines settings of standalone browsers. Thus, you can define OS or platform specific rules and they will have more priority in the end.

More of API and possibilities you will find in the docs folder.

Browser names for .satisfies()

By default you are supposed to use the full browser name for .satisfies. But, there's a short way to define a browser using short aliases. The full list of aliases can be found in the file.

Similar Projects

  • Kong - A C# port of Bowser.

Contributors

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License

Licensed as MIT. All rights not explicitly granted in the MIT license are reserved. See the included LICENSE file for more details.

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